Philanthropist Laurie Tisch visits NYC Green Carts in the South Bronx in January 2012.

Coming out in support of a cause is one way of extending your influence, as illustrated by two individuals who moved up in the rankings of the NYIndex this week: philanthropist Laurie Tisch and Kevin Ryan, founder of online luxury retail company, Gilt Groupe.

Both Ryan and Tisch made the news this last week when they put their weight behind two causes. For Tisch, it was in the form of a commitment to provide $15 million in funds to healthy eating initiatives over five years through her Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The non-profit supports community programs in arts, education and healthy living. Tisch is in ninth position in the non-profit and philanthropy category.